one-hand meal

When the cities of Galtern adopted the custom of day and night shift residents sharing homes, eating at home had to be forbidden except during the shift-crossing hours. After that light breakfast, residents must take the rest of their meals in public eateries. The culture of Galtern values mealtimes as occasions to measure and adjust social value, so eateries encourage diners to sit and spend time enjoying their food and engaging with others.
However, a pragmatic eatery also recognizes that there are occasions when someone can't take the time to stop for a lengthy dinner. The one-hand meal is a solution for those who are traveling or have to cut their break short due to an emergency.

Manufacturing process

Galtern's taboo against touching food with the hands makes it difficult to eat on the run. To ensure safe consumption, the food is served onto a circle of fresh leaf plate with the veins oriented vertically. The bottom quarter arc of the plate is folded up, and the rest of the plate is rolled from the side. This package is placed seam-side down on another slightly larger circle of leaf plate, and the procedure is repeated.
A meal served at a table can be converted to a one-hand meal. If the food is already on leaf plate, the diner can fold the plate and wrap the meal herself. If it's in a dish, she will have to have an eatery worker transfer it to leaf plate and wrap it for her.

Use

To eat a one-hand meal, unfold the outer plate and use it to hold the inner package one hand (usually the non-dominant one, but that's a matter of preference). Peel down the leaf plate by sections to reveal the wrapped food. As long as nothing touches the outer plate, it can be used to re-wrap the meal if it can't all be eaten immediately.

Item type

Consumable, Food / Drink

Raw materials & Components

Almost anything that isn't a soup or beverage can go into a one-hand meal. Since Galternene eat with tongs, most foods are thick enough to be eaten out of a wrapper, though sauces may be given more thickener to prevent dripping. Crula can be considered a one-hand meal, although it is technically more of a snack.